C. Lee McKenzie's Blog, page 39
September 28, 2015
Death of a Foe

Death of a Foe, The Incomplete Story
We are all touched by death. Our friends. Our family members. Celebrities we've followed for years. And we grieve for them, remember their part in our lives and move on. But what happens when a foe dies?
This past week I had that experience. I didn't just hear they had died; I learned of their dying and was kept up-to-date on their condition until their death, so I had a week to reflect on a period in my life that was, to say the very least, miserable. And a lot of that misery stemmed from what this person did.
At one time I'd considered this person a friend, so when I discovered they'd been telling half-truths to me and to colleagues, I was devastated.
"Why are they doing this?" I remember asking.
They wanted my job. That was the answer.
Very simple, isn't it? And not uncommon. This sort of thing is what some great stories have been crafted around. It's just not so great when you're the dupe.
But here's why I'm writing this down. This person has been in my head for a week, and not because I've thought of vilifying them, but because I've been saddened during their dying and at their death. And this sadness is more complicated than I imagined. You see, I thought this would be my chance to gloat. Human nature, right? I couldn't. All I could do was feel a sense of loss and incompletion. We should have had one last talk to set things right, to restore a balance in our tiny universe of a relationship.
Someday I'll write about the death of a foe, and I'll dredge up these feelings. This story about two former friends will never have a satisfying ending for me. If I write it, I may be able to give myself one.

Quote for the Week: "When people die, they cannot be replaced. They leave holes that cannot be filled, for it is the fate--the genetic and neural fate--of every human being to be a unique individual, to find his own path, to live his own life, to die his own death." Oliver Sacks, Author, Neurologist
Beware the White Rabbit (Anthology: They Call Me Alice), Leap Books, Summer '15
Sliding on the Edge, C. Lee McKenzie, WestSide Books, Spring '09
The Princess of Las Pulgas, WestSide Books, Fall '10
The First Time, Fall '11 (Anthology story: Premeditated Cat)
Alligators Overhead, Outskirts Press, Fall '12
Two and Twenty Dark Tales (Anthology story: Into the Sea of Dew
Published on September 28, 2015 05:30
September 21, 2015
Why Blog and Hats Off Corner Welcomes Stephen Tremp
Why I Blog
by
C. Lee McKenzie
Photo SourceI started blogging because my publisher told me to, and back then I did everything my publisher told me to do. The interesting thing that happened is this: I liked it. So why?
I learned a lot of new stuff for one thing, and that's always a motivator for me. I had to figure out which program to set my blog up on, and then how to use it. Blogger worked for me because it didn't have a long learning curve. I quickly learned where the undo button was, so what could go wrong?
Photo Source
I quickly learned that, too. A lot could go wrong if I didn't have content that was of value. What was valuable content anyway? I wasn't a marketing guru. I didn't have hot tips for writers. What was my platform? What was a platform? See? I had a lot to learn, so I kept going.
Then I discovered things like Awards and Hops and Groups. Yay! Now I was on a roll because more than the family cat was reading what I posted.
Then just as I had this blogging thing down, I burned out. Yep. Dry as a summer hill in California, and it happened overnight. I was quitting. I was burrowing into my writer's cave and blowing off all this blogging business.
So why didn't I? Why did I take a break and return? Here's one reason: I missed the contact with the people I'd connected with. I missed knowing when they had new releases or rejections or a great new WIP.
Was there any other reason? I thought about that and decided that without blogging I might have continued to read within my preferred genres. I wouldn't have sampled books that I usually passed up. Because I was curious about what writer friends had created and I wanted to support their work, I found myself reading much more widely.
And that thing about showing up to the blank page? Well, blogging taught me a lot about doing that every single day.
So why blog? I guess those are three compelling reasons for me.
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Here are the followers who won books in this month's Back to School Special Offer.
I had this idea to share books I'd read, enjoyed and reviewed with people on my Mailing List. I love to recycle, but reuse is even better. So congrats to: Bish Denham gets my ARC of The Secret Files of Fairday MorrowBeverly Stowe McClure gets my signed copy of WovenL.L. gets my signed copy of Shooting Kabul.
I'll need your snail mail people, so email me that and I'll send your books on their way! I hope you enjoy these stories as much as I did.
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Hats Off Corner Welcomes Stephen Tremp
Stephen Tremp writes speculative fiction and his fourth novel,
Salem’s Daughters,
is supernatural thriller.
A four hundred year old evil is unleashed when souls of the daughters of those killed during the Salem Witch Trials find a new generation of people to murder at a popular modern-day bed and breakfast.
For a full synopsis and to pre-order a copy of Salem’s Daughters for $2.99 (price goes up to $4.99 soon after release) Click Here.
Visit Stephen at his BLOG.
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Quote for the Day: "The different and the novel are sweet, but regularity and repetition are also teachers." Poet Mary Oliver
Why do you blog? Ever think of giving up? Does Salem's Daughters look interesting?Beware the White Rabbit (Anthology: They Call Me Alice), Leap Books, Summer '15
Sliding on the Edge, C. Lee McKenzie, WestSide Books, Spring '09
The Princess of Las Pulgas, WestSide Books, Fall '10
The First Time, Fall '11 (Anthology story: Premeditated Cat)
Alligators Overhead, Outskirts Press, Fall '12
Two and Twenty Dark Tales (Anthology story: Into the Sea of Dew
by
C. Lee McKenzie

I learned a lot of new stuff for one thing, and that's always a motivator for me. I had to figure out which program to set my blog up on, and then how to use it. Blogger worked for me because it didn't have a long learning curve. I quickly learned where the undo button was, so what could go wrong?

I quickly learned that, too. A lot could go wrong if I didn't have content that was of value. What was valuable content anyway? I wasn't a marketing guru. I didn't have hot tips for writers. What was my platform? What was a platform? See? I had a lot to learn, so I kept going.
Then I discovered things like Awards and Hops and Groups. Yay! Now I was on a roll because more than the family cat was reading what I posted.
Then just as I had this blogging thing down, I burned out. Yep. Dry as a summer hill in California, and it happened overnight. I was quitting. I was burrowing into my writer's cave and blowing off all this blogging business.
So why didn't I? Why did I take a break and return? Here's one reason: I missed the contact with the people I'd connected with. I missed knowing when they had new releases or rejections or a great new WIP.
Was there any other reason? I thought about that and decided that without blogging I might have continued to read within my preferred genres. I wouldn't have sampled books that I usually passed up. Because I was curious about what writer friends had created and I wanted to support their work, I found myself reading much more widely.
And that thing about showing up to the blank page? Well, blogging taught me a lot about doing that every single day.
So why blog? I guess those are three compelling reasons for me.
********

I had this idea to share books I'd read, enjoyed and reviewed with people on my Mailing List. I love to recycle, but reuse is even better. So congrats to: Bish Denham gets my ARC of The Secret Files of Fairday MorrowBeverly Stowe McClure gets my signed copy of WovenL.L. gets my signed copy of Shooting Kabul.
I'll need your snail mail people, so email me that and I'll send your books on their way! I hope you enjoy these stories as much as I did.
********
Hats Off Corner Welcomes Stephen Tremp
Stephen Tremp writes speculative fiction and his fourth novel,
Salem’s Daughters,
is supernatural thriller.

For a full synopsis and to pre-order a copy of Salem’s Daughters for $2.99 (price goes up to $4.99 soon after release) Click Here.
Visit Stephen at his BLOG.
********
Quote for the Day: "The different and the novel are sweet, but regularity and repetition are also teachers." Poet Mary Oliver
Why do you blog? Ever think of giving up? Does Salem's Daughters look interesting?Beware the White Rabbit (Anthology: They Call Me Alice), Leap Books, Summer '15
Sliding on the Edge, C. Lee McKenzie, WestSide Books, Spring '09
The Princess of Las Pulgas, WestSide Books, Fall '10
The First Time, Fall '11 (Anthology story: Premeditated Cat)
Alligators Overhead, Outskirts Press, Fall '12
Two and Twenty Dark Tales (Anthology story: Into the Sea of Dew
Published on September 21, 2015 04:30
September 14, 2015
Hats Off Corner Welcomes Tara Tyler

My Special Offers Mailing goes out Wednesday.
It's Back to School for a lot of kids and parents and teachers! This is my way to celebrate the fall and the new school year.
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Hats Off Corner Welcomes Tara Tyler

A couple of weeks ago, I asked another writer these questions, and so I thought it might be fun compare answers. Tara said she was game, so here are her answers.
Me: As a writer I look to others whom I enjoy reading for inspiration. Do you have a writer or writers you read for inspiration?
TT: I've always been inspired by the writers of books I enjoy. Isaac Asimov, Michael Crichton, Piers Anthony, Janet Evanovich, George RR Martin. And many of my writer friends!
Me: Can you talk a bit about your experience with rejection, how you handled it, what you learned from it? Any “advice” to those who are still getting the “Thank you, but no thank you” letters?
TT: Rejection stinks. Especially when I slave over a query and rewrite it a million times... But once I hit send, I try to forget about it by working on other things. My advice is to expect rejection. It's part of the process. And when the positive responses come, they make the rejections worth it!! Don't fret, the positives will come - keep working, the right fit will present itself.
Me: Is there a story behind the story of this latest book that you wish to share? The ah-ha or lightning moment where the story inspiration struck?
TT: There's always a story behind the story, right? After Pop Travel, I had requests for more. I picked up a trail I left with one of the characters. Hasan loves to create and experiment. In Simulation, he wanted to improve on his guard droids - and he did, but someone stole his work and tainted it... In Book Three: Disposal, Hasan will be working on the garbage/recycling problem and help Cooper and Geri bust some drug dealers making a highly addictive drug from recycled waste... Though he's not the main character, he's a driving force and hilarious to boot.
Me: What’s the hardest part of being a successful, published author? (i.e. finding time to write, creating new books that are of the same caliber as your other successes).
TT: Successful? Ha haha. My sales would disagree, but at least I'm published, right? The hardest part is the marketing. Authors are pretty much on their own these days unless they become a big huge deal with one of the big publishers. Finding a balance between home, work, and writing projects is high on the hard things to do list too! My days seem shorter and shorter all the time.
Thanks for hosting me, Lee! Great questions!

After Pop Travel, Geri convinced Cooper to move back to Atlanta, but for familiar reasons, things didn't work out... In Simulation, Geri is fighting her way back to full-fledged, solo agent status, but first has to deal with one more annoying sidekick on an equally annoying case. Meanwhile, Cooper takes his mind off Geri leaving him by throwing himself into his work, investigating an illegal clone android simulation operation. Sparks fly when Cooper and Geri's cases lead them down the same path. Of course Hasan wants to help them with their cases, and connives a plan to get them back together in the niddle of all the chaos!
SIMULATION delivers more technology, more intense action, more humor, and more exciting new characters. Come along for the ride.
SIMULATION
by Tara Tyler
Release Date: Sept 14, 2015
In 2082, androids are an essential part of daily life. Some are helpful, some would make better toasters, and some are so human-like they're creepy. Back in Atlanta, Detective Cooper's latest client has him searching for her boyfriend who she thinks was replaced by a simulation, an illegal clone android. The guy also happens to be a popular new congressman.
As if the case wasn't frustrating enough, Cooper keeps crossing paths with his ex, FBI Agent Geri Harper who's looking for the same guy. As Cooper closes in, Geri is kidnapped. But when she resurfaces in Washington and goes on a killing spree, he knows it isn't her. Now under suspicion himself, Cooper must find the real Geri to prove her innocence, not to mention hunt down the powerful villain behind it all. Never a dull moment.
Available Now!Amazon ~~ Barnes and Noble
Goodreads giveaway!

Tara Tyler writes sci fi and fantasy action-adventures from her little corner of the world in Ohio as she tries to keep up with her three boys and coach husband. Always making time to write, she sometimes puts off chores and lets laundry pile up... hence, she's also the Lazy Housewife, offering advice and tips to other gals out there trying to do it all without going crazy. She and her housewife friends blog at The Really Real Housewives of America.
tara tyler talks and tweets and facebooks
And don't forget the Rafflecopter! a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Quote for the Day: "Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing." Benjamin Franklin
Are you ready for the fall? Does Tara's newest sound exciting to you? It does to me.
Beware the White Rabbit (Anthology: They Call Me Alice), Leap Books, Summer '15
Sliding on the Edge, C. Lee McKenzie, WestSide Books, Spring '09
The Princess of Las Pulgas, WestSide Books, Fall '10
The First Time, Fall '11 (Anthology story: Premeditated Cat)
Alligators Overhead, Outskirts Press, Fall '12
Two and Twenty Dark Tales (Anthology story: Into the Sea of Dew
Published on September 14, 2015 04:30
September 7, 2015
Hats Off Corner Welcomes Melissa Maygrove
Hats Off Corner Welcomes Melissa Maygrove
AVAILABLE AT AMAZON
Precious Atonement, a companion novel to the highly rated western historical romance Come Back is now available!
Ruined women don’t hope, killers don’t dream, and the dead don’t feel pain.
Ruined by a brutal attack, Rachel Emerson is resigned to live as a spinster. Grieving widower Jacob Evans convinces Rachel to marry him, but giving his precious new wife the life she deserves might cost him the very thing he values most—her.
AVAILABLE NOW ON Kindle and Nook
Last Day at .99
To be notified of giveaways, sales, and future new releases by Melissa, sign up for her NEWSLETTER.
Photo Source
I screwed up this month on my calendar, and posted another author in Melissa's place last Monday. I've apologized, but I still feel like a goose. I hate messing up, and it happens when I've got my plate overloaded. I'm scaling back a bit more and hoping I can keep things straight.
Quote for the Week:
So there you have it. Melissa's new book. My screw up and a quote that fit me perfectly. Ever had life pile up around your head? Every screw up? Beware the White Rabbit (Anthology: They Call Me Alice), Leap Books, Summer '15
Sliding on the Edge, C. Lee McKenzie, WestSide Books, Spring '09
The Princess of Las Pulgas, WestSide Books, Fall '10
The First Time, Fall '11 (Anthology story: Premeditated Cat)
Alligators Overhead, Outskirts Press, Fall '12
Two and Twenty Dark Tales (Anthology story: Into the Sea of Dew

Precious Atonement, a companion novel to the highly rated western historical romance Come Back is now available!
Ruined women don’t hope, killers don’t dream, and the dead don’t feel pain.
Ruined by a brutal attack, Rachel Emerson is resigned to live as a spinster. Grieving widower Jacob Evans convinces Rachel to marry him, but giving his precious new wife the life she deserves might cost him the very thing he values most—her.
AVAILABLE NOW ON Kindle and Nook
Last Day at .99
To be notified of giveaways, sales, and future new releases by Melissa, sign up for her NEWSLETTER.

I screwed up this month on my calendar, and posted another author in Melissa's place last Monday. I've apologized, but I still feel like a goose. I hate messing up, and it happens when I've got my plate overloaded. I'm scaling back a bit more and hoping I can keep things straight.
Quote for the Week:

So there you have it. Melissa's new book. My screw up and a quote that fit me perfectly. Ever had life pile up around your head? Every screw up? Beware the White Rabbit (Anthology: They Call Me Alice), Leap Books, Summer '15
Sliding on the Edge, C. Lee McKenzie, WestSide Books, Spring '09
The Princess of Las Pulgas, WestSide Books, Fall '10
The First Time, Fall '11 (Anthology story: Premeditated Cat)
Alligators Overhead, Outskirts Press, Fall '12
Two and Twenty Dark Tales (Anthology story: Into the Sea of Dew
Published on September 07, 2015 04:30
September 2, 2015
Insecure Writer's Support Group Wed

Your Hosts Today:
Julie Flanders, Murees Dupé, Dolorah at Book Lover, Christine Rains, and Heather Gardner!
Let me count the Insecurities this month.
1) I finished that manuscript I've been wrestling with for weeks, months--let's be honest--years. It went to my all time favorite editor. She liked it. Then I sent it to an author who asked to read it. I'm still chewing my nails about that. Maybe there are really 3 Insecurities in this one paragraph, but I'll bundle them into a unit.

2) I set up a Special Offers Mailing List and that was a huge Insecurity Issue for me, but I have a good start on my list of people who are willing to let me invade their inboxes once a month and offer them books or other rewards for taking up their time.

3) I entered the WEP August Challenge and posted a bit of description. There were some excellent entries in this HOP, so I had every right to be Insecure.
4) My WIP is at 26,000 words and I'm terribly Insecure about it because I'm experimenting with it, so I'm either going to make something good or something really bad.

5) I was hugely Insecure when I invited Barry Lyga to be a guest on my site. I'm still experiencing fan-girl symptoms. He's a super writer.
Well, that's enough about my Insecurities. Now I'm off to see what others have to say about theirs this first Wednesday of September.
Here's to fall! Beware the White Rabbit (Anthology: They Call Me Alice), Leap Books, Summer '15
Sliding on the Edge, C. Lee McKenzie, WestSide Books, Spring '09
The Princess of Las Pulgas, WestSide Books, Fall '10
The First Time, Fall '11 (Anthology story: Premeditated Cat)
Alligators Overhead, Outskirts Press, Fall '12
Two and Twenty Dark Tales (Anthology story: Into the Sea of Dew
Published on September 02, 2015 04:30
August 31, 2015
Hats Off Corner Welcomes Barry Lyga
Hat's Off Corner Welcomes Barry Lyga
Last month I read Boy Toy by Barry Lyga and knew I'd be one of his fans from then on. I admit to some gushing in a comment on his blog, and then I did a very bold (for me) thing. I emailed him and asked him if he'd care to visit my blog. And HE SAID YES!!
So here is one of new favorite authors. Mr. Barry Lyga. And here's my REVIEW of Boy Toy if you want to see what I wrote.
Barry Lyga's Website
You're a busy dad and author, so I wanted you to know you made my month by taking time for this interview here on The Write Game.
Let's start with one question I always like to hear the answer to: As a writer I look to others whom I enjoy reading for inspiration. Do you have a writer or writers you read for inspiration?
B.L. I tend to be inspired by whatever it is I'm into at the moment. There are some things I read in my youth -- the comic books of Paul Levitz and Alan Moore, REPLAY by Ken Grimwood -- that have lingered and seem to inform everything I do, but in general, I don't go any particular author in search of inspiration. I read for amusement, for pleasure, for the joy of seeing someone craft with words. Inspiration is a nice side effect, when it happens.
Me: Can you talk a bit about your experience with rejection, how you handled it, what you learned from it? Any “advice” to those who are still getting the “Thank you, but no thank you” letters?
B.L. My advice is simple: Get used to it. There's this myth out there that once someone says "Yes," you'll never hear "No" again. Nothing could be further from the truth. I've been a professional novelist for ten years; I've published over a dozen books, including a New York Times bestseller, and I still get rejections. You just have be prepared for it. I generally try to assume that everything I do will be rejected. Then, if it isn't, I get a nice surprise! Whatever your coping mechanism for rejection happens to be, don't toss it out the window with glee when you get that first acceptance -- you'll need it again.
Me: Is there a story behind the story of this latest book that you wish to share? The ah-ha or lightning moment where the story inspiration struck?
B.L. For AFTER THE RED RAIN, I guess the moment was when Rob and Peter told me the basic idea of it and asked me to write it! I thought, "I bet I could write the hell out of that!" It's up to the reader to determine whether or not I did, of course!4. What’s the hardest part of being a successful, published author? (i.e. finding time to write, creating new books that are of the same caliber as your other successes).
You can get your copy NOW
Me: What’s the hardest part of being a successful, published author? (i.e. finding time to write, creating new books that are of the same caliber as your other successes).
B.L. I have trouble with this question because I don't entirely agree with the premise -- I don't think of myself as "successful." I think of myself as failing more gracefully, perhaps! For every book I've published, I can think of someway I failed it, either by missing a great moment or not pushing it out into the world hard enough. You come close with the idea of "creating new books that are of the same caliber as your other successes." I've always wanted each book of mine to be better than the one before it. Sometimes, I've managed to hit that goal, but other times not. Finding time to write is a problem only insofar as I'm now a stay-at-home dad and my first priority is my daughter. But even with that tiny, adorable, slobbering obstacle in my way, I've still managed to find time to write a new book this year. The hardest part of this life, truthfully, is the very real fact that once I've written a book, it's fate is pretty much out of my hands. The publisher, the booksellers, and the readers will determine its fate, and there's pretty much nothing I can do about it at that point. A tough lesson!
Me: "Failing more gracefully" is going to go on my bulletin board. But if your other books are as riveting as Boy Toy I'll come by and disagree with you--nicely.
Thanks again. It has been great to read your answers. Hope others will glean help from them. And here's to your latest book--After the Red Rain--just out and getting fab reviews.
******
Quote of the Week:
What do you think about Barry Lyga's answers to my questions? Hope you'll take a look at what he writes. It's refreshing and bright stuff. How about you and rejection? What's your take on that part of life?Beware the White Rabbit (Anthology: They Call Me Alice), Leap Books, Summer '15
Sliding on the Edge, C. Lee McKenzie, WestSide Books, Spring '09
The Princess of Las Pulgas, WestSide Books, Fall '10
The First Time, Fall '11 (Anthology story: Premeditated Cat)
Alligators Overhead, Outskirts Press, Fall '12
Two and Twenty Dark Tales (Anthology story: Into the Sea of Dew
Last month I read Boy Toy by Barry Lyga and knew I'd be one of his fans from then on. I admit to some gushing in a comment on his blog, and then I did a very bold (for me) thing. I emailed him and asked him if he'd care to visit my blog. And HE SAID YES!!
So here is one of new favorite authors. Mr. Barry Lyga. And here's my REVIEW of Boy Toy if you want to see what I wrote.

You're a busy dad and author, so I wanted you to know you made my month by taking time for this interview here on The Write Game.
Let's start with one question I always like to hear the answer to: As a writer I look to others whom I enjoy reading for inspiration. Do you have a writer or writers you read for inspiration?
B.L. I tend to be inspired by whatever it is I'm into at the moment. There are some things I read in my youth -- the comic books of Paul Levitz and Alan Moore, REPLAY by Ken Grimwood -- that have lingered and seem to inform everything I do, but in general, I don't go any particular author in search of inspiration. I read for amusement, for pleasure, for the joy of seeing someone craft with words. Inspiration is a nice side effect, when it happens.
Me: Can you talk a bit about your experience with rejection, how you handled it, what you learned from it? Any “advice” to those who are still getting the “Thank you, but no thank you” letters?
B.L. My advice is simple: Get used to it. There's this myth out there that once someone says "Yes," you'll never hear "No" again. Nothing could be further from the truth. I've been a professional novelist for ten years; I've published over a dozen books, including a New York Times bestseller, and I still get rejections. You just have be prepared for it. I generally try to assume that everything I do will be rejected. Then, if it isn't, I get a nice surprise! Whatever your coping mechanism for rejection happens to be, don't toss it out the window with glee when you get that first acceptance -- you'll need it again.
Me: Is there a story behind the story of this latest book that you wish to share? The ah-ha or lightning moment where the story inspiration struck?
B.L. For AFTER THE RED RAIN, I guess the moment was when Rob and Peter told me the basic idea of it and asked me to write it! I thought, "I bet I could write the hell out of that!" It's up to the reader to determine whether or not I did, of course!4. What’s the hardest part of being a successful, published author? (i.e. finding time to write, creating new books that are of the same caliber as your other successes).

Me: What’s the hardest part of being a successful, published author? (i.e. finding time to write, creating new books that are of the same caliber as your other successes).
B.L. I have trouble with this question because I don't entirely agree with the premise -- I don't think of myself as "successful." I think of myself as failing more gracefully, perhaps! For every book I've published, I can think of someway I failed it, either by missing a great moment or not pushing it out into the world hard enough. You come close with the idea of "creating new books that are of the same caliber as your other successes." I've always wanted each book of mine to be better than the one before it. Sometimes, I've managed to hit that goal, but other times not. Finding time to write is a problem only insofar as I'm now a stay-at-home dad and my first priority is my daughter. But even with that tiny, adorable, slobbering obstacle in my way, I've still managed to find time to write a new book this year. The hardest part of this life, truthfully, is the very real fact that once I've written a book, it's fate is pretty much out of my hands. The publisher, the booksellers, and the readers will determine its fate, and there's pretty much nothing I can do about it at that point. A tough lesson!
Me: "Failing more gracefully" is going to go on my bulletin board. But if your other books are as riveting as Boy Toy I'll come by and disagree with you--nicely.
Thanks again. It has been great to read your answers. Hope others will glean help from them. And here's to your latest book--After the Red Rain--just out and getting fab reviews.
******
Quote of the Week:

What do you think about Barry Lyga's answers to my questions? Hope you'll take a look at what he writes. It's refreshing and bright stuff. How about you and rejection? What's your take on that part of life?Beware the White Rabbit (Anthology: They Call Me Alice), Leap Books, Summer '15
Sliding on the Edge, C. Lee McKenzie, WestSide Books, Spring '09
The Princess of Las Pulgas, WestSide Books, Fall '10
The First Time, Fall '11 (Anthology story: Premeditated Cat)
Alligators Overhead, Outskirts Press, Fall '12
Two and Twenty Dark Tales (Anthology story: Into the Sea of Dew
Published on August 31, 2015 04:30
August 24, 2015
Hot August Nights Special Offer Winners, WEP Spectacular Settings, Hats Off Corner Welcomes Medeia Shariff

I sent my subscriber-peeps my Hot August Nights Special Offer and I have two winners, chosen at random. Christine Rains and Mike Boyd will each receive $10 to add books to their libraries or their Kindles, Nooks or bookshelves. Congrats. And thanks for adding your name to my Special Offers Mailing List. Stay tuned for next month's offer.
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Anyone interested in joining Denise Covey's and Yolanda Renee's WEP Hop? HERE'S where you sign up. Not too late. I've already posted my contribution, and you might like to see what others have written.
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Hats Off Corner welcomes Medeia Shariff

Release Date: August 19, 2015
Ebook
Purchase from Prizm, Amazon (vendor links will be updated on the author's site)
Asma Bashir wants two things: a summer fling and her favorite '80s songs. During a trip to New York City to stay with relatives, she messes up in her pursuit of both. She loses track of the hunk she met on her airplane ride, and she does the most terrible thing she could possibly do to her strict uncle... ruin his most prized possession, a rare cassette tape.
A wild goose chase around Manhattan and Brooklyn to find a replacement tape yields many adventures -- blackmail, theft, a chance to be a TV star, and so much more. Amid all this turmoil, Asma just might be able to find her crush in the busiest, most exciting city in the world.
Find Medeia – YA and MG Author
Blog | Twitter | Goodreads | Instagram | Amazon
Enter the HPITC book blast giveaway!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Quote of the Week: "Life is like a lot of jazz--it's best when you improvise." George Gershwin
And that's a wrap! Are you in the hop? Do you hop? (Just kidding.) Want to find out about that rare cassette Asma ruins? Improvise much?
Beware the White Rabbit (Anthology: They Call Me Alice), Leap Books, Summer '15
Sliding on the Edge, C. Lee McKenzie, WestSide Books, Spring '09
The Princess of Las Pulgas, WestSide Books, Fall '10
The First Time, Fall '11 (Anthology story: Premeditated Cat)
Alligators Overhead, Outskirts Press, Fall '12
Two and Twenty Dark Tales (Anthology story: Into the Sea of Dew
Published on August 24, 2015 05:00
August 19, 2015
WEP Spectacular Settings

I wasn't going to do this, but I'm always going on and on about how much I love description, so I caved. For me setting is very important when I read and when I write. If it's not done well, it might as well not be in the book.
The idea of this HOP is to post description you found spectacular, and then post something of your own. (optional BTW)
This comes from Mistress of Spices by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni. Her setting descriptions are amazing. Here's the one I've chosen for today.
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The store has been here only for a year. But already many look at it and think it was always.
I can understand why. Turn the crooked corner of Esperanza where the Oakland busses hiss to a stop and you’ll see it. Perfect-fitted between the narrow barred door to Rosa’s Weekly Hotel, still blackened from a year-ago fire, and Lee Ying’s Sewing Machine and Vacuum Cleaner Repair, with the glass cracked between the R and the e. Grease-smudge window. Looped letters that say SPICE BAZAAR faded into a dried-mud brown. Inside, walls veined with cobwebs where hang discolored pictures of the gods, their sad shadow eyes. Metal bins with the shine long gone from them, heaped with atta and Basmati rice and masoor dal. Row upon row of videomovies, all the way back to the time of black-and white. Bolts of fabric dyed in age-old colors, New Year yellow, harvest green, bride’s luck red.
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I loved this setting of Divakaruni's because it did so much more than paint the picture of the shop located on a city street with the bustle of ethnic diversity. It captured a sense of the character’s dialect, the smell of her shop and the taste of the spices—all central to the story. To me, that’s great writing.
Now for my humble Spectacular Setting. You're the first to read it--besides my wonderful critique group. This is from my latest WIP. Think about desert while you read it. Oh, and a motel just outside of a town called Rattlesnake. Sound like fun? Here's what my characters see, driving along a hot, sandy road.
It sat between two gas pumps and a gift shop. Twelve motel doors, six up and six down, were painted with Japanese cherry blossoms, a failed attempt to disguise three tacked together, stucco buildings. Someone must have seen that the blossoms weren’t going to do the trick so they painted the walls and the roof pink. And it wasn’t a sandy desert pink; it was hot pink. It was like finding a huge pink whale in the middle of a desert.
(FCA)
Anyone interested in joining this Hop? HERE'S where you sign up.
I'll be posting on my usual Monday, so hope to see you there.Beware the White Rabbit (Anthology: They Call Me Alice), Leap Books, Summer '15
Sliding on the Edge, C. Lee McKenzie, WestSide Books, Spring '09
The Princess of Las Pulgas, WestSide Books, Fall '10
The First Time, Fall '11 (Anthology story: Premeditated Cat)
Alligators Overhead, Outskirts Press, Fall '12
Two and Twenty Dark Tales (Anthology story: Into the Sea of Dew
Published on August 19, 2015 04:30
August 17, 2015
Random Me on Monday
It's hot. It's dry. I'm stressed to the max about any number of things that seem important right now, but probably won't next month. All of this is to say I could not think of anything I wanted to blog about today. Until I took a break and read a magazine. And, guess what? I found stuff I wanted to share.
Totally Random and Almost Useless Facts:
A group of jellyfish is called a "smack."A large river hippo can open its mouth wide enough to fit a four-foot child.The life span of a taste bud is about 10 days.Dixon Ticonderoga Company produces approximately .5 billion pencils annually.It took 101 days for the Pilgrims to sail from Southhampton, England to Plymouth, Mass in 1620.******
Psyche:
I seldom do any reviews of TV anything, but I discovered a show called Psych that actually made me laugh. It's on Netflix (I gave up on TV years ago), so you've probably seen it and forgotten you did. If you missed it, give it a try. Dule Hill and James Roday are a riot together. And Corbin Bernsen is his usual "interesting" self in the role of Dad.
******
Quote of the Week: "Most of American life is driving somewhere, and then driving back wondering why the hell you went." John Updike
Are you ready for fall to kick in? Any random facts that you care to share? Know about Psyche?
Beware the White Rabbit (Anthology: They Call Me Alice), Leap Books, Summer '15
Sliding on the Edge, C. Lee McKenzie, WestSide Books, Spring '09
The Princess of Las Pulgas, WestSide Books, Fall '10
The First Time, Fall '11 (Anthology story: Premeditated Cat)
Alligators Overhead, Outskirts Press, Fall '12
Two and Twenty Dark Tales (Anthology story: Into the Sea of Dew
Totally Random and Almost Useless Facts:

A group of jellyfish is called a "smack."A large river hippo can open its mouth wide enough to fit a four-foot child.The life span of a taste bud is about 10 days.Dixon Ticonderoga Company produces approximately .5 billion pencils annually.It took 101 days for the Pilgrims to sail from Southhampton, England to Plymouth, Mass in 1620.******
Psyche:

I seldom do any reviews of TV anything, but I discovered a show called Psych that actually made me laugh. It's on Netflix (I gave up on TV years ago), so you've probably seen it and forgotten you did. If you missed it, give it a try. Dule Hill and James Roday are a riot together. And Corbin Bernsen is his usual "interesting" self in the role of Dad.
******
Quote of the Week: "Most of American life is driving somewhere, and then driving back wondering why the hell you went." John Updike
Are you ready for fall to kick in? Any random facts that you care to share? Know about Psyche?
Beware the White Rabbit (Anthology: They Call Me Alice), Leap Books, Summer '15
Sliding on the Edge, C. Lee McKenzie, WestSide Books, Spring '09
The Princess of Las Pulgas, WestSide Books, Fall '10
The First Time, Fall '11 (Anthology story: Premeditated Cat)
Alligators Overhead, Outskirts Press, Fall '12
Two and Twenty Dark Tales (Anthology story: Into the Sea of Dew
Published on August 17, 2015 04:30
August 10, 2015
It's Green in Ireland and August Happenings

I've had enough about Leap Castle and it's dreadful history, and I'm sure my readers have as well. Ireland may be filled with ghostly places, but it's also filled with lots of beauty and laughter. The Emerald Isle has my heart, and I think my ancestors must have either been desperate or nuts to leave it. Here are a few places I love.







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A few things happening in August


WEP August Challenge. The first Challenge is SPECTACULAR SETTINGS. Are you in? If not, here's the sign-up LINK!

Eileen Schuh has corralled 12 UncommonYA authors who are donating everything from Sci-Fi to Gritty YA. August 5-September 3 ENTER HERE. I'm offering up a choice of my eBooks.

********Quote of the Week: "If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough." Mario Andretti.
Have I interested you in visiting Ireland? Are you ready for August and all those freebies? Going fast enough?
Beware the White Rabbit (Anthology: They Call Me Alice), Leap Books, Summer '15
Sliding on the Edge, C. Lee McKenzie, WestSide Books, Spring '09
The Princess of Las Pulgas, WestSide Books, Fall '10
The First Time, Fall '11 (Anthology story: Premeditated Cat)
Alligators Overhead, Outskirts Press, Fall '12
Two and Twenty Dark Tales (Anthology story: Into the Sea of Dew
Published on August 10, 2015 04:30